"Ma'am." A cautious voice interrupted the humming coming from the other end of the room. Standing in the doorway of a dim office, a lithe man with dark hair that fell like tar around his shoulders held up a folder. "The report is here."
The woman responsible for the melodic humming, stopped. Without turning her chair around, she responded pleasantly.
"Oh?"
The man nodded, then hastily made a noise of confirmation. "Yes, My Lady. And you were right, it seems. There were many Heroes deployed, including All Might himself. Along with troops from the Musutafu, Yokohama, and even Kanagawa police departments."
The woman nodded along, sultry eyes roving over the wall of screens and monitors she faced. "It makes sense. Most of the Saito family branch works in the police force in Kanagawa. I hear cops take threats against family very seriously."
The man frowned at the next paragraph. "It would seem she was heavily injured as well. A broken leg and…"
"Yes?"
"And some damage done to her face."
The woman sighed deeply. She had hoped to avoid hurting the poor thing, but some things can't be helped. She would just have to make it up to her darling once they were reunited. All that mattered now, was that they knew the sort of lengths the Heroes would go to in order to get the girl back.
So now it was time to prepare for the real reclaiming of the girl known as Hitomi Saito.
"One last thing. Are we to move forward with helping the League?"
The woman waved a dismissive hand, intently watching a head of pink hair bounce around on screen— footage from the sports festival. "Might as well. We can provide them with money and resources, and in exchange they must ensure they cause no further harm to my darling."
"Yes, My Lady." The man bowed deeply, tucking the folder under his arm.
…
Hitomi came to slowly, her senses filtering in one-by-one. First she heard the beeping of heart monitors, and some thick coughing from the next room over. Then she could smell the scentless detergent used on the scratchy sheets, and the tang of sterilization. After that, her face and right leg lit up with dull pain. Her mouth was full of the sticky taste of blood and sleep. And finally, she forced her eyes open.
The hospital ceiling was the same as always, and Hitomi took what comfort from that that she could.
Hesitantly, she bent her neck and peered down.
Her left leg laid in front of her as normal, while her right was replaced by a bulk of white from the knee down.
Huh, so this was what having a cast felt like.
She was just pushing herself upright, when the door swung open.
Who Hitomi expected: Nori, Ayami, Momo, maybe her other classmates.
Who it actually was: Mount freaking Lady.
Hitomi stared wide-eyed at the Hero— now in civvies.
She closed the door softly behind her, carefully holding two Dixie-cups. When she saw Hitomi was up, however, the Hero straightened and grinned.
"Hey, I heard strawberry's your favorite, so…"
Hitomi numbly took the offered ice cream, while Mount Lady opened her own and sat down by her bedside.
"Um, hi?"
Mount Lady smiled, the bandage covering her nose crinkling. "Hi. Sorry we had to meet like this. I had hoped it would be over a dinner or something."
Hitomi nodded slowly, hands going cold enough to sting, reminding her of the treat. Opening it, she couldn't help but relax slightly, seeing it was indeed vanilla with strawberry swirl.
"So, uh…" she trailed off, buying time by scooping some up and putting the wooden spoon in her mouth. It was a relief to replace the flavors lingering before, even if the wood was more prominent than the ice cream itself. "Not that I don't appreciate you being here, or the ice cream, b-but, um… is there a reason you're visiting me?"
Mount Lady paused, spoon halfway to her mouth. Then, much to Hitomi's surprise, her eyes darkened.
"He didn't tell you?"
Hitomi shivered, shrinking into herself. "No?"
Mount Lady sighed deeply, rubbing her temple. "That idiot. We're in the same hospital, of course I'm gonna come see her." She muttered angrily to herself, then set her treat aside, scooting closer to Hitomi. "Okay, here it is. My name is Yu Takeyama. And I'm dating your brother."
Hitomi blinked, then glowered.
"He didn't tell me."
The door swung open, Nori sauntering in with a smile at seeing his sister awake. Until he spotted the blonde.
The two girls whipped their heads around, pinning him with stormy glares.
"You didn't tell her we're dating?!"
"You didn't tell me you're dating?!"
"Oh God." Nori croaked, wincing when the furious aura around the two grew stronger.
But Hitomi snapped out of it, and brightened ecstatically, whirling around in her bed to face Takeyama.
"Oh my gosh! You're dating! So that means you're the tall pretty blonde he met at the sports festival!"
Takeyama smirked, throwing her hair back. "Pretty, hm?"
Hitomi nodded rapidly. "Mm! Hana's always brutally honest, so if she says you're pretty, you know it's true."
Takeyama leaned forward, balancing her chin on her hand. "Aw, that's so sweet. You know, she talks about you a lot. The last couple days she's gone on none-stop about how amazing her big sis Hito is."
Nori watched on, undecided between fear or contentment at his girls getting along.
Hitomi started to beam, but a strange pull on her right cheek stopped her. She winced, gently touching her bandage there.
Both Nori and Takeyama sobered, sharing a look.
"Well, I'll let you two talk." She said quietly, picking up her ice cream and heading to the door.
Nori stepped aside to let her past, and they traded nods.
"How are you feeling?" He asked lowly once the door shut, slowly approaching to stand at the foot of her bed.
Hitomi shrugged, smiling weakly. "I'm alive."
To her regret, she watched tears fill her brother's eyes.
"That camp was supposed to be safe. And now… now we're being told there are people after you, who the police can't even hope to find, and the fucking faculty at UA want to discuss you kids mov—" He stopped, taking a deep breath.
Hitomi watched him, sadly lowering her gaze to her cast.
"Ayami's down in the cafeteria, feeding Hana." Nori continued softer, walking up to her side. "You've been out for a while, you need anything?"
Hitomi flushed, fiddling with her hands. "Um… well…"
"Bathroom?"
She nodded meekly.
Nori pulled out some crutches that were hooked by her bed, carefully helping her move her legs to dangle off the side of the mattress.
"Don't hesitate for a second if you need help with anything, okay?" He quietly ordered, adjusting the height of the crutches for her.
Hitomi frowned all the while, already tired of the hassle of a broken leg. "Has Recovery Girl stopped by?"
"Yeah." Nori huffed, standing back with his hands slightly raised, ready to catch her while she worked on stumbling to the bathroom. "And she's already healed a lot. You had a segmental break, that turned into a compound one."
Hitomi stared blankly, and he sighed.
"Segmental. Bone broke in two places, so piece of bone float in meat. Compound. Piece of bone says hi, through your skin."
"Oh…"
He rolled his eyes. "She healed one break, so there's no bone floating anymore, and sealed the area it went through your skin. You still have one break, and need to wait a week before you can come back for her to take care of it."
Hitomi nodded, but paused when she reached the door. "Um, what about…?" She gestured to her cheek.
Nori frowned gravely. "She's healed that as well as she can, but…"
Hitomi swallowed, hobbling into the bathroom.
Recovery Girl's Quirk, while at face-value, seemed miraculous, it actually didn't do much compared to healing normally. All it did was promote your cells to heal faster. Not better or stronger than before. She couldn't heal you better than your body could itself.
Which was why Izuku's arms were covered in scars.
Hitomi stood after taking care of her business, and shuffled over to the sink. She kept her gaze lowered, not daring to glance up until she was finished washing her hands, just to give herself some more time to prepare.
Then, she looked.
The bandage was taped innocuously on her right cheek, pristinely white.
Breath stuttering, Hitomi reached up and lightly gripped the top edge of the bandage, carefully pulling it down. The following sound to come out of her throat was that of a wounded animal.
The scar began at her jawline, slicing cleanly upward and just barely stopping below her cheekbone. The pinkened skin was inverted, like a piece was dug out from her face.
She was…
Hitomi didn't want to consider herself as vain, but there, standing in front of her reflection and seeing the damage done to her once smooth skin…
Stepping back out into her room, Hitomi looked up at Nori with misty eyes.
He stared at the scar, and frowned deeply, opening his arms to her.
"Oh Tomi…"
Hitomi hiccuped, throwing herself into his arms.
She was devastated.
…
But you'd never be able to tell.
The second day Hitomi was conscious, she was allowed none-related visitors. And as expected, Momo was the first in line.
Gaining her front row seats to Hitomi's strange behavior.
"So, wanna watch a movie or something?" The pinkette asked, smiling merrily.
But her tail didn't move.
"Um, I actually thought you might want to talk?" Momo tried not to stare too long at any part of her friend that was covered in gauze. "And didn't Recovery Girl heal that?" She gestured to her right cheek, which was rebandaged.
Hitomi tried to mask a flinch. "Oh, uh, it's best if I just keep it on, you know? Anyway, how are you doing?"
Momo sighed through her nose, sensing she would get nowhere with how her friend was currently. "Other than a few scrapes and bruises, I'm fine. It's thanks to Awase I'm in such good shape, actually."
"Awase? From 1-B?" Hitomi cocked her head.
Momo nodded once, smiling softly. "Yes. I took a blow to the head from the Nomu, and he didn't hesitate to rush in and save me. If he hadn't been there…"
Hitomi frowned at the implication, deciding then and there that she would be making Awase a dessert of some kind.
The two sat together, talking for hours, only stopping when Nori or Ayami would interrupt to drop off get-well-soon gifts from many different people. Things ranging from sweets to teddy-bears slowly filled up her room, making Hitomi's chest warm.
There was one in particular that she cherished. The lilac bear that smelled of cinnamon, longing, and relief, was held close during much of her evening with Momo.
With the sun starting to set, Nori popped in to warn Momo that time was up, and she had to head home. The ravenette voiced guilt over monopolizing Hitomi's visiting hours, but was brushed off with reassurances from both Saitos.
Before leaving, Momo reached into her bag and pulled out a white box.
"Oh, yeah. Mother got this for you." She held out the new phone, shaking her head minutely. "She wanted to make sure you could call for help if you got yourself into any more trouble."
Hitomi took it gratefully. "Tell her I said thanks. I lost mine during the…" she trailed off, then slumped dejectedly. "I lost it at camp." She finished weakly, a cloud of depression hovering over her.
"I know, we—" Momo cut herself off, hand to her mouth in realization. "Wait, that means—"
"Uh-huh." Hitomi pouted, hugging the lilac bear closer. She didn't really care about losing the phone, moreso what was attached to it.
Momo patted her head commiseratingly. "Don't worry, I'm sure she'd be happy to make you a new one."
Hitomi nodded faintly, mumbling a halfhearted agreement.
…
Katsuki was walking head first into hell.
"We're here to see Hitomi Saito." His mother, Mitsuki Bakugou smiled sweetly at the receptionist, wildly different from the usual expressions of hers.
Anger. Irritation. Annoyance.
(And no, those aren't all the same thing. Not to the Bakugous.)
After verifying they were indeed who they said they were, the receptionist gave them his classmate's room number, warning them that she may be asleep, with how early it was. There was also apparently a police detail stationed in her hallway.
The silent reminder of the lingering threat against her made something stir uncomfortably in the blonde's stomach.
Katsuki had tried sneaking out before the sun was even finished breaching the horizon, all to avoid exactly this situation. Unfortunately for him, his mother just so happened to be up too, and caught him halfway to the door. After an interrogation, she squeezed his plan out of him, and staunchly decided that she and his father were coming along too.
And now his parents were going to meet Saito.
Katsuki briefly prayed for her to be asleep.
The walk to her room felt like a march to the gallows, and Katsuki distracted himself by running his right thumb over the healing cuts on his left palm. He debated with himself on whether or not he should say anything to her about it, but something held him back.
He was broken from his musings when— to his grief, his mother threw open the door. It slammed against the wall, ensuring that, if she wasn't already, Saito would most definitely be awake now.
"Er— Hi?" He could hear Saito's cautious tone from out in the hall, where he stood back.
"Hello there." His mother chirped, and Katsuki could practically hear the cheshire grin on her face. "You must be Saito. I'm Mitsuki Bakugou."
"Oh! I thought you two looked a lot alike. Katsuki never told me he had an older sister."
Katsuki closed his eyes, wishing— not for the first time —he'd just chosen to stay home.
"Oh, well, that's because I'm Katsuki's mother."
Somebody come kill him. Now. Before his mother got the chance to use this against him.
"Katsuki, get your ass in here!" She must've noticed his absence.
Sighing deeply, Katsuki ambled into the room with a heavy scowl. He inwardly appreciated the sympathetic look his father gave him.
But his annoyance died out, when he saw Saito.
She sat up in her bed, her right leg bulked up under her blanket by a cast. She was pale, rings under her eyes. A thick bandage was taped over her right cheek, where that psycho school-girl slashed—
Saito smiled, but Katsuki didn't sense any of her usual cheer in it.
"Hey, Katsuki."
He glowered, crossing his arms stiffly. "Idiot. Why are you smiling? You look like dog-shit."
He should've expected the swift smack to the back of his head.
Saito huffed an obviously feigned laugh, scratching her neck awkwardly. "Ah, well, I don't wanna worry anyone, you know?"
Katsuki clenched his fists, digging his nails into the tender cuts.
"We came by to thank you for looking out for Katsuki." His father, Masaru Bakugou, spoke up for the first time. "And he wanted to drop something off for you."
Saito's ears went back, and her eyes became noticeably guilty. "I really didn't do anything. He's the one who looked out for me."
"Katsuki Bakugou is going to become the most amazing Hero the world has ever seen! And no one, especially not you league of asshats is going to change that!"
Katsuki swallowed, turning his head to the side.
You're here because of me. You're hurt because of me. You and All Might. It's my—
"Either way," his mother started in a soft voice, walking over and putting a hand on Saito's head, "thanks for being there for him."
Saito's bottom lip wobbled, and Katsuki had to look away. But her next words made his gaze shoot back up to her face.
"Of course. He's my friend."
He could protest to that. He would, any other time. Especially with the knowledge that his mother would absolutely use this, too. But…
Saito's eyes were watery, her lip trembled, her cheeks were pale, and she looked so fragile for once.
(Because of me.)
Katsuki remained silent.
His father cleared his throat, sharing a wordless exchange with his mother entirely through looks. Something Katsuki could never figure out how they pulled off.
"Well." His mother clapped her hands, stepping away from Saito's bed and walking back to the door. "You kids talk, and all that. We'll be down in the cafeteria."
Thank god for small mercies.
Katsuki waited for them both to leave, and shut the door behind them, before he would even look up at his classmate again.
Saito was smiling when he did— this one more genuine. "They were nice."
Katsuki scoffed, approaching her bed. "Yeah, because you don't know them."
"Your mom kinda smells like you. Not by a lot though."
Katsuki sneered, stuffing his hands into his pockets, wrapping one around a small bag hidden inside. "Great. Like I wanna hear that."
Saito giggled. "Don't worry about it. All family smell similar in some way."
Katsuki wasn't sure how that was supposed to work, but moved past it in favor of getting the whole visit over with. He casually pulled out the bag, holding it out to her.
"Oh yeah, here."
Saito blinked, staring blankly at it for a second, before her eyes lit up.
"My phone!"
The police issue evidence bag contained her shattered and dirty phone, still covered with an obscene and ridiculous amount of charms, all hanging off of the horribly impractical case.
She took it, opening the bag and taking it out. She seemed unbothered by the state of the device, smiling widely— this one bright and sincere —at it.
"It's beyond repair." He commented dryly, arching a brow at her glee. "You'd be better off just getting a new one."
Saito shook her head, still beaming. "It's not the phone I'm happy about. It's this." She pointed out one specific charm. It was simple, just a string of chunky beads, ending in a strawberry charm.
"Why?" Katsuki asked skeptically, eyeing it and deducing it was definitely the cheapest looking one out of all of them.
Saito's smile softened into something loving— and Katsuki almost took a step back when she then looked up at him.
"It's the most important one, because Hana made it for me."
"Hana?" Katsuki mumbled, immediately annoyed with himself for continuing on with the conversation. He should just leave and—
"Oh, she's my guardian— Ayami Usagiyama's, daughter. She's super sweet." Saito took the case off of the phone, careful to avoid nicking herself on the broken screen. "I was really bummed about losing it, so thank you, Katsuki."
He clicked his tongue, glaring down at her. "Who the hell gave you permission to use my first name, anyway?!"
Saito actually fucking smirked. "Well, so long as you call me Cherry, I'm gonna call you Katsuki. Suck it up, buttercup!"
Katsuki blinked, then deadpanned.
"How much pain-meds are you on right now?"
"So much."